Rapper

Rumors have been circulating on Twitter and the Internet for the past few weeks that Trinidad James signed a $2 million contract with Def Jam. Now, Billboard has confirmed that the buzzy rapper has in fact inked a deal with the label.

“Def Jam, thank you for believing,” said James. Def Jam President Joie Manda added, “We’re excited to welcome a young talent like Trinidad James to the Def Jam family. … Def Jam prides itself as both a cornerstone of hip-hop’s rich tradition, and as a vital, forward-thinking label dedicated to breaking and nurturing emerging artists. Trinidad James represents the cutting-edge of what’s happening in the culture today. We are thrilled to have him at the label, and look forward to growing his already massive buzz.”

The Atlanta, Georgia emcee has been on the rise over the past few months thanks to his breakout single “All Gold Everything.” Over on YouTube, the video has clocked more than 3.1 million views.

James recently performed at New York City, New York’s Santos Party House for a sold-out crowd that included executives from Def Jam and Atlantic Records.

Lil Wayne is collaborating once more with 2 Chainz, this time for the lead single off his upcoming album I Am Not a Human Being II.

According to HHNM, Weezy and Tity Boi duet on the track “Rich as Fuck.” The video, directed by Parris, will begin shooting in the next few days.

The YMCMB chief recently announced that I Am Not a Human Being II will release on February 19, 2013 with a tour to follow. He also revealed in an interview that he’ll hang up the mic following the release of Tha Carter V.

“I know y’all want me around for a little bit, [but] Tha Carter V is my last album,” he revealed. “I’ve been rapping since I was 8 years old; I’m 30 now. That’s a long time, and I like to do so many more things, and when I like to do something, I end up loving to do it real quick. And I love to do something, I’m fully focused on it and it only, and music sometimes is not that ‘it.'”

Policeman in Chicago, Illinois are searching for people who hung posters advertising Chief Keef’s “Finally Rich.”

Policeman in Chicago, Illinois are seeking to issue citations to individuals who are hanging up posters advertising Chief Keef’s Finally Rich around his Englewood neighborhood.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, people have been putting up advertisements for the young rapper’s debut, releasing December 18th. Chicago Police union Vice President Daniel Gorman described the acts as a “smack in the face” to police officers.

“It seems as if he’s being hailed a hero,” he said. “But it’s a smack in the face to the police officers who are serving the citizens of those communities.”

Chicago Police Commander Kevin Ryan noted that this isn’t a personal attack on Keef, who is currently on probation for pointing a gun at a policeman. “We used to do this when I was commander in [a downtown] district,” he explained.

Keef’s manager, Rovan “Dro” Manuel, disagreed, stating that this is in fact an issue with the rapper. “I don’t think it’s fair,” he said. “If they [don’t] do that with Britney Spears, Madonna, the Goo Goo Dolls, why do they have to do that to us?

“I think they’re targeting Chief Keef a little bit for more reasons than one,” he continued. “He’s a spokesperson for Englewood, they had problems way before Chief Keef. When something bad happens they want to put it all on him.”

Yelawolf reveals that “Trunk Muzik Returns” will drop sometime this February 2013.

When HipHopDX spoke to Yelawolf this past summer, the Alabama-based emcee revealed his was planning to return to his musical roots with a new mixtape titled Trunk Muzik Returns. Now, according to XXL, the Shady rapper has a set date for the project’s release.

Yelawolf took to Twitter early today to announce that Trunk Muzik Returns will be dropping sometime in February 2013. The tape is a sequel to his breakout 2010 mixtape Trunk Muzik: 0-60.